On the Waterfront

“On the Waterfront”, is a 1954 classic which was based on the articles by Malcolm Johnson, who wrote about corrupt unions on the docks of New York. This movie mainly focused on the ideas of the characters moral implications and the struggle for human dignity. The main character, Terry Malloy, played by the actor Marlon Brando is an ex-boxer that gets a job with the mob because of his brother Charley Malloy.

The movie really focuses on the transitions that Terry made to become the person that he knew he should be. At the beginning, he is just this little obedient guy that actually takes part in the murdering of his own friend, which shows that he is timid and has no respect for himself. He follows the mob leader Johnny Friendly, who is the symbol of corruption and evil. Then he meets the sister of the man he helped kill and she changes him. She kind of symbolizes the good in all humanity. Terry is then in the middle of a giant game of tug-a-war between the mob and Edie Doyle, between what is right and wrong, and between good and evil.

As Terry is stuck in between what is right and wrong, he is guided by the town father. Father Barry, who is my personal favorite character, is the symbol of god and justice. He pretty much made the entire movie great and worth watching. Karl Malden’s acting was the best in the movie. Even though he wasn’t the main character, he was the deciding factor in Terry’s struggle.

The only part of the movie that I really did not understand is why did Terry and all the other workers continue to work for the mob. After he had been brutalized and beaten to a half inch of his life, he continues to work for the mob. I really expected them to all just walk away from the whole thing and go on strike. You would think that would hurt the mob more then going back to work for them, but they had a different strategy.

In final, I believe that this movie is trying to tell us not to conform to evil, but fight it. We cannot stand by and watch our fellow brothers and sisters get hurt and killed. We have to stand up for ourselves and do god’s work. Even if our lives are in danger, we need to what is right.

"Casablanca"

Casablanca, a movie about a good old love triangle, was an instant classic and all time great when it was released January 23, 1943. The movie really puts the saying "if you love someone then you will be able to let them go" to the test. The main character Rick really has to choose between what is the right thing to do and what he wants for himself.

In my own opinion, the movie was a great love story that had everything in it. It had Nazis, criminals, a baffling murder, a lost love and an unseen twist that made everyone gasp. I kind of figured that IIsa and Victor were in love, but who could have seen that they were married even when Rick and IIsa were in Paris. The ending is what was really predictable though. I knew that Rick wasn't going to let Victor stay in Casablanca while he and his wife went to America. It was a good excuse in the movie, but I was not going to buy it. I knew no man would take another man's wife and leave him probably to die, especially when it was so obvious that she loved her husband more then him. Right when she pulled the gun on Rick to get the letters, that’s when he knew that he had no chance with her and that she really did love her husband. He knew the only way that he and IIsa could be happy is if he let them go to America. Then and only then could he finally put to rest that nightmare of what happened to him at the train station.
Finally this movie was a great romantic classic that really shows that love will triumph over everything from war to money. Like the IMDB movie review says “it is a great romance, not only for being so supremely entertaining with its humor and realistic-though-exotic wartime excitement, but because it's not the least bit mushy.” So what can a person ever give a movie that has everything? How about three Oscars along with five other nominations, great reviews and a good reference from me also.